diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-core.c b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
index 9138fcb15cd3..6aeba0d66ec5 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-core.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
@@ -158,9 +158,10 @@ static void soc_init_component_debugfs(struct snd_soc_component *component)
 				component->card->debugfs_card_root);
 	}
 
-	if (!component->debugfs_root) {
+	if (IS_ERR(component->debugfs_root)) {
 		dev_warn(component->dev,
-			"ASoC: Failed to create component debugfs directory\n");
+			"ASoC: Failed to create component debugfs directory: %ld\n",
+			PTR_ERR(component->debugfs_root));
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -212,18 +213,21 @@ static void soc_init_card_debugfs(struct snd_soc_card *card)
 
 	card->debugfs_card_root = debugfs_create_dir(card->name,
 						     snd_soc_debugfs_root);
-	if (!card->debugfs_card_root) {
+	if (IS_ERR(card->debugfs_card_root)) {
 		dev_warn(card->dev,
-			 "ASoC: Failed to create card debugfs directory\n");
+			 "ASoC: Failed to create card debugfs directory: %ld\n",
+			 PTR_ERR(card->debugfs_card_root));
+		card->debugfs_card_root = NULL;
 		return;
 	}
 
 	card->debugfs_pop_time = debugfs_create_u32("dapm_pop_time", 0644,
 						    card->debugfs_card_root,
 						    &card->pop_time);
-	if (!card->debugfs_pop_time)
+	if (IS_ERR(card->debugfs_pop_time))
 		dev_warn(card->dev,
-			 "ASoC: Failed to create pop time debugfs file\n");
+			 "ASoC: Failed to create pop time debugfs file: %ld\n",
+			 PTR_ERR(card->debugfs_pop_time));
 }
 
 static void soc_cleanup_card_debugfs(struct snd_soc_card *card)